Artificial leg.



(1.1. FILLING e F. H. JEWETT.

AHTIFICML LEG.

APPLICAUDN HLED MAY 20| 916. 1,21 1 1222, Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

4 4 SHEEYS-SNEET l.

CIHrSJPML'rQ/g' and drslllwe FMF C. I. FILLING F. H. IEWETT.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

4 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

fave leJJP C. J. FILLING F. H. JEWETT. I

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

\ API'LICATION FILED HAY 20. ISIS. 1,21 1,222. Patented Jan. 2,1911

^ 4 SHIS-SHET 3.

(2.1. FILLING & F. H. JEWTT.'

ARHFICIAL LEG.

APPLICATIUN FILED MAY 20. lala.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. FILLING, OF LANSDOWNE, AND FRANCIS H. JEWETT, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS T0 FILLING ARTIFICIAL LIMB COMPANY, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COEPRATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

vARTIFICIAL LEG.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Application led May 20, 1916. Serial No. 98,724.

To all 11s/wm, 'it may concern.'

lie it known that we, Cuantas J. linuso, citizen of the United States, residing at Lansdowne, county of Delaware, State of Pennsylvania, and Fit-meis il. Jews'rr, citi-v zen of the United States, residing iu the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Legs, of which the following is a specification.

'l`he object of our invention is' to provide an artificial leg or novel4` simple and elle cient construction having profusion: first, whereby the length thereof may be adjusted to the length of the natural leg ofthe wearer so that artilicial legs made in accordance with my invention may be carried in stock and adjusted to tit each particular case, avoiding the necessity of constructing legs of prescribed lengths to tit particular cases; secondly, whereby the socket member for receiving the stump of the amputated leg is properly supported within its leg member in a manner to permit it to be readily removed or replaced; thirdly, whereby the foot member shall be strong. light and durable; fourthly, whereby various novel advantages are gained by various novel fea tures of construction, as will hereinafter appear.

71th this object in view our invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings.illustrating our invention: Fi ure 1 is a front view of an artificial leg emi and constructed Ato take the place of a natural leg am utated below the knee. Fig. 2 is a verticalpsection, on line 2-2'o Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of lthe socket member shown in Figs. 1 and/ Fig, -l is a back view of the Socket member shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, on line of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is aihorizontal section, on line i-6 of Fig. 9.. Y Fig. 7 is a sectional detail showing the U-bolt for the ankle joint. Fig. is a side view of an artificial leg embo ying our invention and constructed to takithe place of a natural leg.r amputated above the knee. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectow. n line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a Iside view of the socket member shown in odying our` invention Figs, and i). Fig. 11 is a back view of the socket member shown in Fig. 10. Fig. l2 is a vertical section, enlarged, on line 12-7115 of Fig. l1. Fig. 13 is a horizontal. section, ou line 13 125 ol Fig. l1.

Referring lirst to Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, which illustrate an artil'ieial leg constructed in accordance with our invention to take the place of a natural leg amputated below the knee, 2l designates an upper leg member, l a lower leg member and 7 a foot member. 'l'he upper leg member i comprises a suitable flexible band which is adapted to inv close the leg of the wearer above the knee, and which is split vertically to permit it to be expanded while being applied to or removed from the leg. The sides of the split portion are drawn together by a suitable lacing 8, as shown, which may be adjusted to cause the band or member 2i to properly fit the leg. The lower leg member 4 comprises an upper section l0 and a lower section ll. The Lipper section 10, of the leg member i is made hollow to receive, in the upper poi'- tion thereof, the stump of the leg, and the lower leg member l is hinged to the upper leg member at 14, by means of bars or braces 15 and 1li which are suitably secured to the sides of the upper member I), and the sides of the upper section 1U of the lower member l, respectively. the bars l5 projectbars 16 projecting upwardly from the mem- Hber -l and being pivoted to the bars 15 to form the/lfrig/e joint 14l between the members iiud l, which corresponds to the knee joint of the wearer. The lower end portion of the upper section 10 of the member 4 surrounds and is fitted to the upper end portion of the lower section 11 thereof, in a-manner to permit the .sectionsy 10 and 1l to be adjusted relative to each other to lengthen or shorten the lower leg.'r member l. 'flielower end portion of the upper section 1C) is split vertically or longitudinally. at 1.7, to permit the section V10 to yield and to expand slightly when the section 11 is inserted therein, to provide a tight fit. The body of the section 10 is provided with a covering of leather or other suitable Hexible material which is secured to the exterior thereof and which surrounds the .section l0 and covers the split portions 1T thereof and permits the, slight expansion of the section 110, previously men# tioned. After the proper longitudinal adjustment of the lower leg member 4 has been made, the sections 10 and 11 are secured to-l gether by a number of wood screws 18 which extend through openin s inmthe section 10 and are screwedimto t e section 11 which is made of wood so as to be capable of receiving the screws 18 at any point of adjustment. Before the section 11 is inserted into the section 10, hot glue is applied to the interior of the section 10 or to the exterior of the section 11 or to both where they contact with each other, and `when the gluehardens and sets it forms an additional means of securing the sections 10 and 11 together,

To support the stump of the wearers leg within the leg member 4, we provide a socket member 19 which is removably supported within the member 4. Thissocket member 19 is formed of suitable flexible material and it is tapered to conform to the stump. The member 19 is split vertically or longitudinally to be circumferentially adjustable to fit the stump, and the sides of thcl split portion are connected and held together in different positions of adjustment by a suitable lacing 2() which may be ad justed, as desired, in `fitting the member 19 to the leg stump. The upper Vend of the socket member' 19 is provided with a culi1 21 which extends outwardly over the upper end of the legmember 4 and thenv downwardly and embraces the upper end thereof in a manner to support the socket member 19. In the present form of embodiment of our invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the body of the socket member 19 comprises inner and outer layers of material 22 and 23, respectively, which are secured together by cementing and suitable stitching. meeting edge portions of the inner layer 22 lap each other at the split portion 24 of the socket member 19; and the adjacent edges Vof the outer layer 23 form flaps on the respective sides of the s lit portion 24 of the `socket member;` the aps 25 being provided with suitable perforations for thereception of the adjusting lacing 20, and` the lapping edge portions of the inner layer 22 serving as-a guard to protect the stump from the lacing 20, exten ing between the flaps 25. The upperedge portion of the inner layer 22 is turned outwardly und downwardly to form the cuff 21, and a spacing member 26 is insertedcbetween the turned down edge portion of the inner layer 22 and the body thereof in the upper portion of the cuff 2 toV maintain it spaced from the body of the socket member 19 to receive the upper portion of the lower leg member 4. The cuil 2l is maintained in its turned down position and the spacing memberis retained therein by `a suitable line of stitching 27 which cxtends through the culi 21, the spacing mem- The ber 26 and the body of the layer of material 22.

The lower end of the lower section 11 of lthe lower leg member 4 terminates in anv ankle portion 28 to which the foot member 7 ishinged, at 29, to permit the foot member which is driven longitudinally into the pivot v1 pin 30 and through perforations in the bolts' 31, thus securing the pin 30 and bolts 31 toi gether to be applied to or removed from the section 11 as 'a unit. Theupper ends of the securing bolts 31 are screw-threaded andprovided with nuts 33 which engage the bottom wall of a depression in the-top of the section 11 und securely hold the pivot pin 30 within its cavity in the ankle piece 28 or section 11. The pivot pin 30 is maintained in working engagement with its socket in the foot member 7 by an inverted U-bolt 34 which embraces the pivot pin 30 and extends 4downwardly therefrom throu h the foot member 7. The ends of the U- `olt 34 are screw-threaded to receive nuts which engage the top wall of u cavit in the bottom of the foot member 7 and liold the bolt in place. The forward portion of the ankle piece 28 is adapted to work up and down 1n a cavity 35 in the foot member 7, and the rearward portion of the ankle piece is adapted towork up and down in a cavity 3G formed within a sheet metal guard 37 which extends around the heel portion of the foot member 7. The lower portion of the guard 37 is set into the foot member 7 so that the outer faces of the member 7 and guard 37 will be flush. and the guard 37 is secured to the member 7 by suitable screws. The guard 37 and member 7 are provided with a covering 38 of suitable material which is secured to the exterior surfaces thereof and which crosses the lioint between them. This Ic o11.-it1uction enables us to construct the body-of the foot member 7 of wood for strength and lightness, and to construct the wall of the socket 36 of thin und strong material. A yielding rubber spring 39 inserted within the cavity 3G between the rearward portion of the anklcpiece 28 and the heel portion of the foot member 7 tends los' iis

to turn the foot member Tfibn thehinge 29 oot member 7 to bemoved on the hinge 29 i3."

in the usual manner. The foot memberJ is provided with the usual sole and licei pads 41 and 42, respectively.

Referringr now to 8 to 13, inclusive, illustrating an artificial leg, constructed in accordance with our invention, to take the place of a natural leg amputated above the knee, the lower leg member 43 and the foot member 44 are constructed substantially the same as the members 4 and T shown in Figs. 1, 2 and t3, excepting that the socket incinber 19 is omitted and the upper end portion of the log member 43 is fashioned to form, with the upper leg member l5, a suitable artificial knee portion, wherein the meinbers 43 and 45 are pivoted or hinged together, at 4G. In this construction the upper leg member 4,5 comprises an upper sec tion 47 and a lower section 48. The lower end of the lower section 48 forms the knee, and the upper end of the lower section 48 is surrounded by and longitudinally adjustable within the lower end of the hollow upper section 47. The Sections 4T and 48 are adapted to be secured together in different positions ol adjustment by screws and glue between the sections in the same manne as the sections 1U and 1l ot' the lower leg member 4, previously described, are secured together, for the purpose of lengthening or shorteningr the upper leg,r member 45 to bringr the knee joint lo' of the artificial lcg,r into proper relation to the knee joint of thc natural leg oi' the wearer, before securing the sections 4T and 48 of the leg member together. 'l`he upper portion oi' the hollow upper section lT is provided with a socket member 4) which is removably supported therein and which is adapted to receive the natural leg stump. This socket member, while being constructed slightly' different in dctail from the socket mem 1er ll). pre-f viously described, is like the same in that it is split verticallyv to be circlnnt'erentially ad justablc. that the sides ot' itsl split portion are provided with llaps 5f) which are heldY together by a Suitable lacing 51, and that i is provided with a cuff 52 which extends outY wardly over thc upper end oi' the upper section -ll' of the leg member 4T to support the socket member 4.9 and to permit it to be removed from the leg member 45. `ln order that the upper portion of thc upper section li of thc upper leg,r member Yl5 may be cir cumt'erentially adjustable to properly lit the socket mcniberril) therein, when the socket member 4t) is adjusted circinntcrentially to tit the stump o-f the natural leg, we split the upper end portion of the section l? into tongues .Bland surround the tongues 523 with an adjustable strap .'i-ll provided with a suitable buckle which maybe readily manipulated to cttcct the desired adjustment. The strap .3l is prevented vl'rom moving longitudinally ol" the tongues from its proper position covering,r may expand in by short straps 55 ,crossing the strap 55 and lriveted to the tongues 53.

We claim:

l. In an artificial leg, a hollow lef,lr member, and a socket member within the leg member and adapted to receive the stump and comprising a body portion removably contained within the leg member and having its upper end turned outwardly and downwardly forming,r a cuil' embracing;r the top of the leg member, a spacing,r member secured to the socket member between the main body thereof and the cuit and rcstiinglr upon they top ot the leg,r member and lsupporting.;r thc socket member therein.

2. In an artificial leg, a hollow section, i .second section formingr a continuation of the hollow section, the two sections constitilting a leelr member, the hollow section surrounding and being,r fitted to said second secv tion, the portion of thc hollow section which surrounds said second section being split longitudinally to permit the hollow section to expand when said second section is inserted thi-rein to provide a tight fit, and said second section beingr adapted to be adjusted longitudinallyY within the hollow section, and means to -secure said sections together in diti'crcnt positions of adjustment.

fl. ln an artilicial leg, a hollow section, a` second section forming a continuation of the hollow section, the two sections constituting a leg' member, thc hollow section surrounding and being,r littcd to said second section, the portion ol' thc hollow section which surrounds said second section being split longitudinally to permit the hollow section to expand when said second section is inserted therein to provide a tight fit, and said sccond section being,r adapted to be adjusted longitudinally within thc hollow section, an expansiblc coveriingr surrounding' Ibc hollow section and crossingr the split portion thcrcof and secured tin-reto, whereby said conformity with the expansion ol' the split portion ot' thihollow scclion to provide :t smooth and uuintcrruplcd outer surl'arc at all time` l'or thc hollow section, and means lo secure said tions logt-ther justinent.

l. ln an artificial leg,r a foot member t'oruicd ot' wood and having a hccl portion, a sheet metal Iguard sel into the foot member and having.,r it, outer surface llush with the outer surt'aue. ol' the foot member and cxtending,r upwardly from said hccl portion and foi-miner a pocket. means lo secure the guard to the foot member. and a legr section pivoted to the foot member and ha vine a part adapted to enter said pocket.

In an artificial leg a t'oot mcnibcr form-cd ol' wood and ha vingi` a heel portion, a sheet metal lguard set into the foot member and having its outer surface flush with the sci'- in different positions olf adouter surface of the foot member and extending upwardly from said heel portion and forming a pocket, means to secure the guard to the foot member, a. covering secured to the foot member and the guard and crossing the joint between them, and a leg section pivoted to the foot member and havix a part edapted to enter said pocket. 6. connectlng element for artificial legs l comprising av pivot pin, a securing bolt extending into the pivot pin substantially at right angles thereto, and e securing pin extending longitudinally Within the pivot pin und penetrating the securing bolt.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures hereto.

CHARLES J. FILLING. FRANCIS H. JEWETT. 

